2018 world news told in photos: Getty Images

Embers falls from burning palms and the sun is obscured by smoke as flames close in on a house at the Woolsey Fire on November 9, 2018 in Malibu, California. About 75,000 homes have been evacuated in Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to two fires in the region.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

California wildfires

Smoke from the Holy Fire burning in Cleveland National Forest is blurred in a long exposure above an industrial storage facility on August 10, 2018 in Corona, California. The fire continues to grow amidst a heat wave and has now burned over 18,000 acres while remaining just five percent contained.

John Moore/Getty Images

Migrant caravan

A migrant caravan walks into the interior of Mexico after crossing the Guatemalan border on October 21, 2018 near Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico The caravan of Central Americans plans to eventually reach the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to cancel the recent trade deal with Mexico and withhold aid to Central American countries if the caravan.

John Moore/Getty Images

Migrant caravan

A Mexican riot policeman protects an immigrant father and child during a clash between police and the migrant caravan on the border between Mexico and Guatemala on October 19, 2018 in Ciudad Tecun Uman, Guatemala. A faceoff occurred when the caravan of thousands of migrants tried to enter Mexico after pushing past Guatemalan security forces. The caravan pried open the gate into Mexico but were pushed back by Mexican riot police. Some immigrants threw stones at police who then fired tear gas into the crowd.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Migrant caravan

Some of the thousands of Central American migrants rest after arriving into the small town of Santiago Niltepec on October 29, 2018 in Santiago Niltepec, Mexico. Following a break on Sunday, the migrants, many of them fleeing violence in their home countries, resumed their march towards the United States border. As fatigue from the heat, distance, and poor sanitary conditions has set in, the numbers of people participating in the march has slowly dwindled, but a significant group are determined to get to the United States. On Monday an official said that the Pentagon will deploy up to 5,000 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in an effort to prevent members of the migrant caravan from illegally entering the country.

This year brought us natural disasters, heated political battles and immigration standoffs.

And that's just in the United States.

>>>Take a look back at the global news events that shaped 2018 in the gallery above.

Among the worst domestic catastrophes to hit us in 2018 are the California wildfires which started in mid-July through August, with another round of blazes in November. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports this is the worst wildfire season on record. Fires charred more than 1.8 million acres in northern California, causing nearly $3 billion in damages. As of Dec. 3, the death toll stood at 85 with 11 people still missing.

South of that destruction, a battle raged on at the border as a caravan of Central American migrants rushed the Texas-Mexico point of entry in search of asylum from violence in their countries. A growing impatience and spike in gang-related violence drove families from Honduras, El Salvador and other countries through Mexico to the U.S. where they were met with resistance. As of Dec. 4, a caravan managed to breach the border.

Before the Central American caravan was the focus at the border, the Trump Administration's "Zero Tolerance" policy led families to be separated after crossing the border. "Tender-age" family immigrant detention centers and images of frightened children sparked a world-wide outcry.

Also in Texas was one of the most popular midterm elections in the country as Democrat Beto O'Rourke attempted to unseat Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in a heated Senate race. Their campaigns attracted national attention through viral videos and controversial ads. On Election Day, Cruz won, and O'Rourke supporters immediately began proclaiming that their candidate should run for president in 2020. O'Rourke has yet to announce whether or not he will run.

Of course, we can't forget the two hurricanes that devastated our coasts this year. Hurricane Florence ravaged the Carolinas in September, leaving behind widespread flooding. More than 50 people died.

Just weeks later, Hurricane Michael made landfall along the Florida panhandle on Oct. 10, decimating Mexico Beach and parts of Panama City Beach, Fla. More than 40 fatalities were reported. The Category 4 hurricane was the strongest on record for the panhandle and the fourth-strongest landfalling hurricane in the contiguous U.S.

These highlights are just the US' biggest events this year. Elsewhere in the world, a record-setting typhoon claimed lives in Japan, reunions between North and Souther Korean families drew tears and world leaders convened with curious results.